Re-establishment Centres

HC Deb 30 November 1971 vol 827 cc230-1

11. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many visits he has made to re-establishment centres since he took office.

Mr. Dean

Of the 13 centres, my right hon. Friend has visited one and I have visited two.

Mr. Dormand

Will the hon. Gentleman consider increasing the frequency of these visits in order to give more publicity to the valuable work being done by the centres, which exist to bring the long-term unemployed man back to work? Would he emphasise particularly that for the whole of 1970 only 2,308 men attended the country's 13 centres? Does not this give the lie to the idea, fostered on many occasions by the Conservative Party, that half the nation are no-good layabouts? Is he satisfied that the centres are receiving their fair share of resources in premises and skilled and professional personnel?

Mr. Dean

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman said about the centres. They do valuable work, particularly in trying to help those who have got out of the normal routine of work to get back into that routine. I assure him that my right hon. Friend and I will always visit them as opportunity arises.